Just had to share...Key Limes at last!!!

**Jaded** · 10-25-2007, 03:27 PM

7 or 8 years ago, I forget which, I bought a little 1 gallon key lime tree from Wal-mart. I planted it, tended it, and it never had any fruit. It bloomed this year, but I didn't expect anything, so I didn't even check back. Well, today, I'm walking around making a list (a loooooooong list) of chores in the garden, when I notice a yellow thing on the tree....OMG! A fruit! A ripe fruit! Then I look, and there on the ground are 6 more dropped ripe fruits! I picked them up, picked the ripe on on the tree, and started counting. I have at least a dozen more on the tree! I'm sooooooooooo thrilled!

I also have a lot of Meyer Lemons, and a few Valencias, but nothing else has anything on it.

Someone suggested to me awhile back not to worry about the three times a year fertilizing, to just toss some around about once a month, and they would do better. So far, so good! I'm sooooooooo happy!

Now what to do with them....I'm thinking a nice, refreshing glass of limeade. Or maybe I'll squeeze them and save the juice, and try to make a key lime pie...nope, not enough. Limeade it is, then.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-25-2007, 03:32 PM

Once you get fruit on the tree you should see a bigger crop next year.

Did you pick off any blooms that it had in the first yr? The guy at my mursery told me you shouldnt let a fruit tree bloom for the first three yrs after you plant it. IF it doeesnt bloom for a few yr you will have much healthier fruit when it does.

**baxjul** · 10-25-2007, 03:44 PM

ooooooo! I love limes right off of the tree! The lemons too! Lucky you!

**lwlynch** · 10-25-2007, 03:48 PM

how lucky you are.. my stuff usually gets wacked my by the crazy.. dh on a weed wacking adventure

**Edna_E** · 10-25-2007, 04:54 PM

Congrats on citrus motherhood! I've never made it (mine usually get too dry at some point).

**kittykatstrong** · 10-26-2007, 12:35 AM

Just think next year, key lime pie. Yummy!!

Katy

**brainyblonde** · 10-26-2007, 06:10 AM

I am so jealous of those that can grow their own citrus fruits. I have a generous co-worker that owns a home in FL and brings us lemons from his trees. They are so huge and with a much better flavor than store bought. I freeze the juice in ice cube trays, and dry the peels.

**DixieJ** · 10-28-2007, 10:27 AM

O.K., I'm jealous--I would love to live where I could grow citrus fruit!! I think it would be great to go out and pick your own oranges for fresh juice in the morning or fresh lemons and limes for a pie. Enjoy!!!

Dixie Jean

**Jaded** · 10-28-2007, 01:24 PM

Actually, I miss being able to grow apples, pears and stone fruits. There are low chill varieties, but they don't even compare to the real thing.

That's one reason I want to move to S. Ga. I want to be able to grow what I love the most.

I'm sick of citrus. The trees I have have barely given me any fruit. They are labor intensive, and need to be babied to bear. If there was any viable alternative to replace them with, I would.

**zenmama** · 11-03-2007, 04:10 PM

Congrats! definitely one of the simple pleasures of life is watching nature do its thing!!

**YankeeMom** · 11-03-2007, 04:18 PM

Oooh! I'm so jealous

I can't wait to have my own fruit trees. Of course, this far north it will be apple, pear, & plum trees.

**frugal-fannie** · 12-11-2007, 04:59 AM

Jaded, You can always try a corona with those limes. Congratulations on the plentiful harvest.I planted a few trees last year and I had one lime this year.My lemons are not plentiful but the trees are hanging tough. I am still waiting for some oranges and avacados. I keep looking at the neighbors full trees with envy.